Inserter for diaphragms



Oct. 11, 1938. P L. CLARK. JR 2,133,07

INSERTER FOR DIAPHRAGMS Filed Jan. 13, 1938 fave/225197": J e/" ay .L Clark, J?

P tented Oct. 11, 1938- v WINSERTERTOR'DIAPHRAGMS r I Percy L. Clark, Jr.,, ohi ago, n1. Appli ation January 13, lasaserialjno. 184,747 4 Claims. (o1.emf- 127i My invention relates to medicinal applicators and particularlyto an inserter adapted for use with hemispherical or Mensinga diaphragms.

In the use of devices ofthe class described it is somewhat diflicult for the average, woman to properly insert the diaphragm intothevagina with assurance that the ring entirely surrounds .the cervix and is seated securely against the upper wall of the vaginalcavity insuch avoidpossible displacement. g

To overcome this difliculty, a number of me chanical devices have been suggested, but in many cases there has been no provision :for

is' well understood that the hemispherical diaphragms are manufactured in diameters from 55 to 90 millimeters, the variations being by 5 milli meters. In practice, therefore, it has been necessary to keep a supply of inserters for all of those sizes, an objection that has interfered very materially with their use. j 7 An object of my invention is to provide a universal adaptor, so arranged that the device is adapted for use in connection with any of the standard sizes of hemispherical diaphragms. Furthermore, the device is'so simply constructed that the cost is very small andthere are noparts that may become out of order. 7

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing; in

which, i

Fig. 1 is 'a bottom plan view of an inserter such as contemplated byme, a hemispherical diaphragm being held thereby in distended relation, ready for insertion;

Fig; 2 is a side elevation of the device in the position of use, ready for insertion,'.'the diaphragm being shown in dotted lines;

2, the parts being somewhat enlarged; and, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

ing, I provide a-single wire, doubled on itself to provide two parallel body portions; Ill-fl I, joined at I2 and provided with a handlell3. At the.-op

- posite end,'the two wires are disposed somewhat at an angle and are bentto provide the'hook l4,

' adapted to engage the inside edge ofthe flexible rim l5 of a hemispherical diaphragm.

The body portions Illl l are bent toprovide complementary notches Iii-l1, thereby provid-' manner as to adaptation to different sizes of diaphragms; It

' Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig.

. In theform of the dev ce shown m the drawmedicament may 10 dated. Tmlsithe medica 7 [8 preferably spaced apart a distance corresponding to requirements as follows: A,

While, as stated, the standard diaphragms vary in diameter from to90 millimeters in 5 milli- 'meter, steps, the spacing of the notches should'be greater than '5'millimeters, preferably about .28

finch. Thisfwill, insure the proper deformation when "the diaphragm is engaged as hereafter de- .scribedffj v V Iiiorder to provide a complementary hook for engagement withfthe' diametrically opposite po'r-' tion'ofthe rim of the diaphragmfl provideia fbracket, preferably composed of a single length of wire bentto provide a head l9, generally of the shape of an elongated figure eight, and a rightangularly projecting body 20 having a greater width at its outer end than at its point of juncture with the head. This projection may be formed by looping the wire as shown. The construction is such that in order to enter the. brack et into; one of the notches, the parallel parts I fl-|l must be sprung apart and when the bracket enters the opening, the parts will snap back into place, thus holding the bracket firmly in position. In the position shown in the drawing, a diaphragm of mm. diameter is shown iniplace the respective notches being designed to accommodate diaphragms having a diameter of 55 millimeters with the bracket in the notch at the extreme left and a diaphragm of millimeters diameter with the-bracket in the notch j at the extreme right.

In operation, the dealer having sold adiaphragrn of '65 millimeters diameter, the bracket ment, usually'in theform ofa jelly, is confined or held in such position that it is'not likely to be squeezedout during the process of insertion.

After the inserter-and diaphragm have been projected into the vagina to the proper point, the 'fingeroflthe' user is employed to press upwardly on the point of the rim of the diaphragm that engages around the bracket 20 untilit slips over the end of the projection, whereupon the ring will assumeits normal circular shape and 55 I posed of wire throughout, it will be; understood that modifications and variations in this and other features may bemade without departure from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An inserter for diaphragms,- comprising, in combination, a body portion composed of two parallel closely adjacent parts having complementary notches therein, one end of the body being disposed at an angle and terminating in. a hook, and a projection adapted to cooperate with said hook to hold a diaphragm in laterally distended. relation, said projection being insertable in and're'movable from any one of the notches in said body by springing apart the parallel parts of said body. 7

2.. An inserter for Mensinga diaphragms comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel body parts joined at their ends andjadapted to be sprung apart at a point intermediate theirends,

the iacing'portions of said parts having a series of notches longitudinally spaced apart a. distance corresponding to standardjv'ariations in diameters ofsaiddiaphragms, said body partsterminating in ,a hook at one end, a bracket adapted to cooperate with said hook to engage a diaphragm in laterally distended relation, said bracket being adapted to be located in any one of said notches by springing the body parts apart, and held therein against removal except by the same springing action.

3. In combination, a pair of parallel wires joined at their ends only, whereby they are adapted to be sprung apart, at least one of said wires being bent to provide a series. of spaced apart notches intermediate the joined ends, the said spacing being that of the variation in diameter of common Mensinga diaphragms, one end of said wires being disposed at an angle and terminating in a hook, a bracket adapted, with said hook, to engage and hold in distended position, the rim of a diaphragm, said bracket being constructed to be snapped into a selected notch juncturewith the head, said body portion being adapted to be seated in a selected notch by springing apart the said wires.

PERCY L'. CLARK, Jli. 

